Date Released: Jan 11, 2011

Bitrate: Variable

Contributor

01.07.11

Tapes 'n Tapes, Outside

2011 | Label: ibid records / Redeye

Tapes 'n Tapes so perfectly captured the indiepop zeitgeist of the mid '00s that when they faded, it was as if they'd just been a media-created fever dream. Outside is an important test to see if they can survive outside of the cocoon of hype that surrounded their first two albums. It begins well: "Badaboom" is a terrific romp, powerful and propulsive but with a playful note that recalls the band's best work. Longer exercises… read more »

Contributor

01.07.11

Tapes 'n Tapes, Outside

2011 | Label: ibid records / Redeye

Tapes 'n Tapes so perfectly captured the indiepop zeitgeist of the mid '00s that when they faded, it was as if they'd just been a media-created fever dream. Outside is an important test to see if they can survive outside of the cocoon of hype that surrounded their first two albums. It begins well: "Badaboom" is a terrific romp, powerful and propulsive but with a playful note that recalls the band's best work. Longer exercises are rewardingly fresh — like the woozy, mournful "On and On" and "Nightfall," the stabbing horns of which recall the Paisley Underground. Even the strangest moments have a loopy charm: "Freak Out" is a supremely catchy number that only falters during its misguided guitar solo.

Unfortunately, for every success, there's a stumble. Some tracks are half-formed — more ideas than songs — and Josh Grier's vocals can overpower the music. The band can't escape its reputation as a composite of its influences, either: "The Saddest of All Keys" is essentially an Elephant 6 workout, and "People You Know" could pass for a Modest Mouse outtake. Outside is half a great album, but its best moments offer ample evidence as to why anyone was so excited about them in the first place.

It grows on you

Compared to their previous endeavor, Walk It Off (which sadly is no longer on eMusic), this is a cleaner sounding, slightly more poppy album. That's neither good nor bad, but be prepared to hear them creeping slightly into Vampire Weekend territory on a few of the tracks. I still feel Walk It Off is one of the best summer driving-with-the-windows-down albums ever made, but this will be a contender as well. I didn't warm up to it quite as fast, but sooner or later, it does grow on you.

Best album in quite a while

This album has grown and grown on me and now I can't get the damned tunes out of my head! Desert Plane is nothing short of beautiful and I wish to God that Freak Out had been released back in my dancing days. Now I just have to make do with jumping round my garage like a nutter while I'm meant to be fixing up my bike. I do get little sniffs of Pixies throughout the album, maybe that's why I like it so much. I love the feeling of space they create within the music while managing to keep it sounding so raw. This album needs to be listened to at full volume, so what are you waiting for, download it, crank it up, and revel in the depth and breadth of this album. And for the record, I don't like Vampire Weekend.

Agree with jboogalu

Have no idea either why I stare at the cover- but I do every time I'm here- one time I'll listen to the music! I did listen to the samples- didn't sound too bad however nothing unique or very compelling either.

if that is wrong, i don't want to be right

Vampire Weekend?

Get a grip. These dudes were crushing Busch Lite cans on their foreheads when Douchepire Weekend was still suckling Paul Simon's saggy teet. I feel like they're getting unfairly hammered for this album. It's good. Not great, but good.

Vampire Weekend Bandwagon

i like!

I wasn't crazy about it at first, but it's growing on me. I guess it does sound like the sum of its influences sometimes, but I like their influences--pavement, modest mouse, replacements, etc--so it sounds pretty good to me. Not sure why Pfork was so ungenerous about this album.

Not Bad

It's not bad. And that's the problem. The Loon was so good that we all know what they're capable of. This is just inconsistent. There are a few really good tracks. If you want to pick and choose, I'd download Freak Out, Outro, and On and On.

Not quite sure why?

People Lie

After the somewhat overcooked Walk It Off, Tapes n Tapes walked away from their XL deal, letting it expire so they could record their third album, Outside, in their Minneapolis hometown and release it on their own Ibid label. This back-to-basics approach suits the bands tried and true indie sound — though theyre not quite as raw as The Loon, Outsides songs are direct while still leaving T’nT plenty of room to play. One in the World’s mischievous percussion and brass reflect how revitalized the band sounds on the album, along with Badaboom, which opens the album with rhythms so nimble it would be easy to mistake it for a more down-to-earth Vampire Weekend song. Peter Katis mixed the results of the bands recording sessions, and he makes sure Tapes n Tapes’ urgency and whimsicality are in perfect balance, as on SWM, where sparkling keyboards dance around Josh Grier’s rasp. More importantly, the bite has returned to the bands rockers, particularly Desert Plane and the galloping Freak Out. T’nT still run into some trouble when they slow things down, as on Outro and Hidee Ho, both of which are just saved by blistering solos, but songs like On and On and Mighty Long show that theyve rediscovered what made them vital. Neither as rough as The Loon nor as smooth as Walk It Off, Outside is the best place for Tapes n Tapes to be. – Heather Phares